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The Black Phone

The Black Phone is a 2021 American supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and based on Joe Hill’s short story of the same name.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Black Phone is a 2021 American supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and based on Joe Hill's short story of the same name. It stars Mason Thames as Finney Blake, a 13-year-old boy abducted by a masked child killer known as The Grabber, played by Ethan Hawke. The film blends kidnapping-thriller elements with supernatural communication from past victims and is widely available to Canadian audiences through theatrical release, home entertainment, and streaming windows typical of major Hollywood horror releases.

Plot

The film follows Finney Blake, a 13-year-old boy kidnapped by The Grabber and trapped in a basement. He discovers that a disconnected black phone can be used to communicate with the killer's previous victims, who try to help him escape.

Production and source material

The film adapts Joe Hill's short story from the anthology 20th Century Ghosts. Coverage of the film notes that its premise was inspired by real-life serial killers and 1970s fears, but it is not a literal true-story adaptation.

Cast

Mason Thames plays Finney Blake and Ethan Hawke plays The Grabber. Madeleine McGraw appears as Finney's sister Gwen, who has psychic abilities and helps search for him.

Franchise

The Black Phone is part of a film series and was followed by a sequel, The Black Phone 2. Sources indicate the sequel was planned and later released after the original film.

Key facts

  • The film is based on Joe Hill's short story, not on a single documented true case.
  • Ethan Hawke plays the masked kidnapper known as The Grabber.
  • The main character, Finney Blake, is 13 years old.
  • The story follows Finney after he is abducted and held in a soundproof basement with a disconnected black phone.
  • The film was followed by a sequel, The Black Phone 2.
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Canadian context

The film is widely available to Canadian audiences through theatrical release, home entertainment, and streaming windows typical of major Hollywood horror releases.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Black Phone based on a true story?
No. It is based on Joe Hill's short story, though it was influenced by real-life serial killers and 1970s fears.
Who plays the Grabber in The Black Phone?
Ethan Hawke plays The Grabber.
What is The Black Phone about?
It follows 13-year-old Finney Blake, who is kidnapped by The Grabber and trapped in a basement, where a disconnected phone lets him hear the voices of the killer's previous victims.
Does The Black Phone have a sequel?
Yes. The Black Phone was followed by The Black Phone 2.
How old is the main character in The Black Phone?
Finney Blake is 13 years old.

References

  1. Digital Spy — https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a40359216/the-black-phone-true-story-inspiration-joe-hill/
    Supports: The film is not a true story; sequel information; release context.
  2. CBR — https://www.cbr.com/the-black-phone-not-true-story-joe-hill-story/
    Supports: The film is based on Joe Hill’s short story; Finney’s age; plot premise; not based on an actual case.
  3. Time — https://time.com/6191651/the-black-phone-horror-trauma/
    Supports: Ethan Hawke as The Grabber; 13-year-old Finney; film premise.
  4. Wikipedia — https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/The_Black_Phone
    Supports: Film metadata, cast, and franchise context.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Phone_(film_series)
    Supports: Film series and sequel context.